Label assembly and method of using the same to label articles durably yet removably

Abstract

A label assembly and method of using the same to label articles durably, yet removably. In one embodiment, the label assembly is used to label fabric articles, such as clothing, and comprises (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the fabric article, the image forming laminate comprising an ink layer, the ink layer being bondable to the fabric article; and (b) an image removing laminate for removing the image from the fabric article, the image removing laminate comprising a remover layer, the remover layer, upon being activated by heat and/or light, being bondable to the ink layer of the image forming laminate; (c) whereby, upon bonding of the image removing laminate to the ink layer, the bonding between the image removing laminate and the ink layer is stronger than the bonding between the ink layer and the fabric article.

1. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on an article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the article, said image forming laminate comprising an ink layer, an image support and a protective layer, said image support comprising adhesive means for bonding directly to the article and having a first surface adapted to face towards the article and a second surface adapted to face away from the article, said ink layer being bonded to said second surface of said image support, said protective layer being bonded to said ink layer opposite said image support; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer being bonded to said remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, comprising adhesive means for bonding to said ink layer of said image forming laminate through said protective layer of said image forming laminate; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the article. 
 
     
     
       2. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the image support comprises a film selected from the group consisting of PVC-based, polyester-based, polyurethane-based and acrylic-based films. 
     
     
       3. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on an article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the article, said image forming laminate comprising an image support, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer, said image support having a first surface adapted to face towards the article and a second surface adapted to face away from the article, said ink layer being bonded to said second surface of said image support, said adhesive layer being directly bondable to the article and being bonded to said first surface of said image support, wherein said image forming laminate further comprises a protective layer, said protective layer being bonded to said ink layer opposite said image support; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer being bonded to said remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, comprising adhesive means for bonding to said ink layer of said image forming laminate through said protective layer of said image forming laminate; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the article. 
 
     
     
       4. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on an article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the article, said image forming laminate comprising a support portion and a transfer portion, said transfer portion being releasably mounted on said support portion, said transfer portion being bondable to the article and comprising an ink layer, a spacer layer, said spacer layer being directly bondable to the article and being positioned over said ink layer, and a protective layer under said ink layer, said protective layer being in direct contact with said support portion and being in direct contact with said ink layer; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer being bonded to said remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, being bondable to said ink layer of said image forming laminate through said protective layer of said image forming laminate; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the article. 
 
     
     
       5. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said support portion comprises a carrier and a release coating, said release coating being positioned over said carrier, said transfer portion being positioned over said release coating, and wherein said image forming laminate further comprises a wax release layer, said wax release layer being interposed between and in direct contact with said release coating of said support and said protective layer. 
     
     
       6. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on an article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the article, said image forming laminate comprising a support portion and a transfer portion, said support portion comprising a carrier and a release coating, said release coating being positioned over said carrier, said transfer portion being releasably mounted on said support portion, said transfer portion being bondable to the article and comprising an ink layer and at least one of an adhesive layer over said ink layer and a protective layer under said ink layer, wherein said transfer portion includes said ink layer and said protective layer, said protective layer being in direct contact with said ink layer, said image forming laminate further comprising a wax release layer, said wax release layer being interposed between and in direct contact with said release coating of said support and said protective layer; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer being bonded to said remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, being bondable to said ink layer of said image forming laminate through said protective layer of said image forming laminate; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the article. 
 
     
     
       7. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said ink layer is directly bondable to the article. 
     
     
       8. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said ink layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light and pressed against the article, adheres to the article. 
     
     
       9. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on an article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the article, said image forming laminate comprising a support portion and a transfer portion, said transfer portion being releasably mounted on said support portion, said transfer portion being bondable to the article and comprising an ink layer and at least one of an adhesive layer over said ink layer and a protective layer under said ink layer, wherein said transfer portion comprises said ink layer and said adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being directly bondable to the article, said adhesive layer being positioned over said ink layer; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer being bonded to said remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, being bondable to said ink layer of said image forming laminate; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the article. 
 
     
     
       10. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said adhesive layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light and pressed against the article, adheres to the article. 
     
     
       11. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said adhesive layer is in direct contact with said ink layer. 
     
     
       12. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said transfer portion further comprises a primer layer interposed between and in direct contact with each of said adhesive layer and said ink layer. 
     
     
       13. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on a fabric article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the fabric article, said image forming laminate comprising an ink layer and means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article, wherein said means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article comprises a support, said ink layer being printed directly onto said support, said support having a surface roughness not exceeding about 15 microns, wherein said support comprises a polyvinyl chloride resin; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the fabric article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, being bondable to said ink layer of said image forming laminate, said remover support being secured to said remover layer; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the fabric article. 
 
     
     
       14. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on a fabric article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the fabric article, said image forming laminate comprising an ink layer and means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article, wherein said means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article comprises a support and an adhesive layer, said support being positioned over and bonded to said adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being directly bondable to the fabric article, said ink layer being printed directly onto said support, said support having a surface roughness not exceeding about 15 microns, wherein said adhesive layer comprises a heat-activatable adhesive selected from the group consisting of a PVC-based adhesive, a polyester-based adhesive, a polyurethane-based adhesive and a polyamide-based adhesive; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the fabric article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, being bondable to said ink layer of said image forming laminate, said remover support being secured to said remover layer; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the fabric article. 
 
     
     
       15. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on a fabric article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the fabric article, said image forming laminate comprising an ink layer and means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article, wherein said means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article comprises a support, said ink layer being printed directly onto said support, said support having a surface roughness not exceeding about 15 microns, wherein said image forming laminate further comprises a protective layer, said protective layer being positioned over said ink layer; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the fabric article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, comprising adhesive means for bonding to said ink layer of said image forming laminate through said protective layer of said image forming laminate, said remover support being secured to said remover layer; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the fabric article. 
 
     
     
       16. The label assembly as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said protective layer is in direct contact with said ink layer. 
     
     
       17. The label assembly as claimed in  16  wherein said protective layer comprises at least one of a phenoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic resin and a PVC resin. 
     
     
       18. A label assembly suitable for use in forming a lasting, yet removable, image on a fabric article, said label assembly comprising:
 (a) an image forming laminate for forming an image on the fabric article, said image forming laminate comprising an ink layer and means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article, wherein said means for bonding said ink layer to the fabric article comprises a support, said ink layer being printed directly onto said support, said support having a surface roughness not exceeding about 15 microns; and 
 (b) an image removing laminate for removing said image from the fabric article, said image removing laminate comprising a remover layer and a remover support, said remover layer, upon being activated by at least one of heat and light, being bondable to said ink layer of said image forming laminate, said remover support being secured to said remover layer, wherein said image removing laminate further comprises a tie layer interposed between and in direct contact with each of said remover layer and said remover support; 
 (c) wherein the image forming laminate and the image removing laminate are constituted such that, upon bonding of said image removing laminate to said ink layer, the bonding between said image removing laminate and said ink layer is stronger than the bonding between said ink layer and the fabric article.